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Review of MINDHORN

MINDHORN is both a brilliantly funny, nostalgic send up of 80s action TV shows and another example of the comedy (and pathos) that can be mined from a tragic middle aged character who despite being past it, clings desperately onto their ego and memories of better days (see Alan Partridge, David Brent and Ron Burgundy). MINDHORN is a deliciously British creation and sure to be an instant cult classic.

Richard Thorncroft (The Mighty Boosh’s Julien Barrett) is the star of a nearly forgotten 80s cop show set on the dangerous streets of the Isle of Man, Mindhorn. Mindhorn had his eye surgically removed, replaced with a robotic eyepatch which allows him to see through criminals, to see the truth. After a sequence where we see Thorncroft in all his Steve Mcqueen style turtleneck glory, riding high on success (and across the bonnet of his beloved 80s sports car). We then see Thorncroft abruptly falling (his disastrous Oliver Reed style interview on Wogan a particular highlight), we cut to the present day. Thorncroft is now a down on his luck older actor, overweight and unable to even keep a gig advertising medical socks (he loses it to of all people… John Nettles). Suddenly there are a series of murders on the Isle of Man and the killer will only deal with one man, Mindhorn… Not Richard Thornhill but Mindhorn, the character he played on the telly. Seeing it as an opportunity to raise his profile, Thornhill suits up and heads to the Isle of Man to help the police (and with as much publicity as possible, his failing career) as well as face up to some skeletons in his closet.

Julien Barrett manages to bring a real likeability and sympathy to Richard Thornhill, despite his great many character flaws and in particular brings a real sense of fun to the MINDHORN sequences. Barrett shows off a varied performance here, successfully rooting Thornhill with a deep sadness and regret but also delivering Mindhorn’s one-liners with aplomb and exhibiting some brilliant slapstick (particularly in the films overcooked finale). The supporting cast is equally excellent with co-writer Simon Farnaby’s Clive, Thornhill’s eccentric stunt double and Richard McCabe’s grotesque ex-manager particular stand outs. Steve Coogan also has an extended cameo as Thornhill’s great professional rival with a Mindhorn spin-off which is wildly more successful than the original show. Unfortunately the female characters are given a lot less to do, which is something that MINDHORN lampoons (some things haven’t changed all that much).

First time director Sean Foley (half of the legendary double act The Right Size who co-wrote and performed the West End hit The Play What I Wrote) finds the right balance between poignant scenes with real heart, laugh out loud ridiculousness and bizarre Mighty Boosh-lite outlandish moments. The scenes from the fictional retro 80s TV series are spectacular and visually well composed complete with VHS tracking problems, hammy acting, shoddy dialogue and general low grade production values in the best possible way. Though by the end, MINDHORN goes slightly off balance it is a fun and very silly journey that has a great gag rate which gets the little details just right. Bring back MINDHORN (possibly as a DVD box set)!